Musgrave filmmaker breaks boundaries with new film

MUSGRAVE resident and filmmaker Eubulus Timothy showcased his film, Vivaldi Spring in the Time of Covid-19, at the Made in Chatworth Book Fair and Film Festival, which ran from November 4 to November 6 at Depot Road Memorial Primary School, Chatsworth. Timothy says the film was well received by audiences at the festival, and he hopes to give it a wider reach to make it more accessible to Durban viewers.

Vivaldi’s Spring in the Time of Covid-19 is directed by Timothy and produced by award-winning South African producer Seema Ramsewak. The film uses music and subject matter from Antonio Lucio Vivaldi who was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Vivaldi was regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, his influence during his lifetime widespread across Europe, giving origin to many imitators and admirers.

Ramsewak said, “This is an amazing piece because it’s infused with so many different artistic elements. Vivaldi was iconic because he was innovative in how he initiated a style, which is called programme music.”

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“The global Covid pandemic necessitated stringent lockdown and social-distancing measures. The live performance of music ceased at a time when art, beauty and hope were most needed. In Europe, the balcony singer became a metaphor for maintaining social connection through the beauty of art.”

Timothy says Ramsewak researched Vivaldi and his music for the film. “We sought to find inspiration in the classic composer’s music to reimagine a form through which music may be appreciated in the time of Covid, reflected through the time we went through and its underlying sadness,” said Timothy.

Vivaldi’s Spring in the Time of Covid-19 went on to win Ethekwini Filmmaker’s Best Artistic Film, was nominated for two Simon Sabela’s Film Awards – Best Short Film and Best Use of a Location – and also won Durban Tourism’s Best Film – 2022.

“With the talented musicians of Baroque 2000, especially the virtuoso lead violinist, Ralitza Macheva, and his small crew; with production designer and make-up artist Flo Schneuwly, sound recordist Tansen Naipaul and innovative editor Shannon Newton, we created Vivaldi Spring in the Time of Covid-19 in a few days,” said Timothy.

Recently, Timothy was asked to speak at DUT’s Academic Research Conference on ‘A metaphor of social connection in the time of a pandemic,’ based on the film. As part of the lecture, Timothy says he took the Covid-19 booster, and to his great surprise, five other attendees joined him.

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Timothy is currently casting his next feature film called The Cane Cutter.

“The Cane Cutter is about a postgraduate law student who drops out of university to make a documentary on his great-grandfather’s life as an indentured servant. His world changes when he meets a young doctor fighting for her independence as a woman,” he said.

Timothy proudly shared that he was given the rights to remake the famous movie, Look Back In Anger, which starred Richard Burton. He says the new version will be set in Durban.